Shootings have risen by nearly 40% this year in Durham
Gun violence is on the rise in Durham this year, according to a report released by the Durham Police Department. From the beginning of this year to Sept. 19, there have been almost 200 more shootings in Durham compared to that same time frame last year.
Posted — UpdatedFrom January to Sept. 19, there have been almost 200 more shootings in Durham compared to that same time frame last year. While three fewer people have died by gunfire so far this year, 94 people have been struck by bullets in Durham.
Already this year, 35 children under the age of 18 have been struck by gunfire.
Schewel's first thought to why there is a spike in gun violence is the coronavirus pandemic and the financial hardships that have come with it.
"It's really hard for me to figure out what has caused this spike this summer. It's not just me. I think we're all struggling trying to figure that out," he said. "I know our police are as well. The only obvious thing that's different is COVID."
Shootings have increased by nearly 40% in Durham this year compared to last year. From January to Sept. 19, 2019, 495 shootings were reported in Durham. In the same time frame this year, 689 were reported.
The mayor said that the federal and state governments need to do their part in passing better gun control laws.
“We’ve got to have better gun control,” said Schewel. “We need a national government that is going to provide some national background checks for people. We need to make it so that people cannot just anonymously buy guns at a flea market.”
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